I Did It, I’m Actually Going To Freaking Graduate

“All of my grades are now in, my degree audit has all green checkmarks, I have my cap and gown…but if you told me I would be here a year and a half ago I would have laughed in your face.”

With graduation just a few short days away, sometimes it’s nice to take a look back on your college journey to remind yourself how far you’ve come. Between the late nights at the library to the early 8 a.m. classes, it’s easy to forget how much you were able to push yourself through and come out on the other side stronger than you were before.

For Cassie Summers, an alumni of Ohio State after graduation on Sunday, she’s reminding us of just that. It wasn’t an easy road for her, but her story that she shared on Reddit can serve as both a success story to show anyone that they can do it, as well as a chance to remind other students that you aren’t the only person struggling with these overwhelming feelings of emotions.

Check out Cassie’s story below:

All of my grades are now in, my degree audit has all green checkmarks, I have my cap and gown…but if you told me I would be here a year and a half ago I would have laughed in your face.

Four years ago, I was a freshman with severe anxiety and really struggled to make friends. That year I ended up in the hospital twice due to how bad my anxiety had gotten, one of those being a four-hour panic attack. I found out I had to stay in the summer to retake a theory class. The major I was in was insane, I had an insane amount of classes, but yet I felt like it was the only thing I could do.

Sophomore year was probably the worst year of my life, the one friend I actually had completely gone sour and rumors were spread throughout my department making it even more difficult having friends, while I had a job some treated me quite poorly to the point I was crying. However, this was the year where I started getting to the source of my issues. I visited a psychologist and got diagnosed (some of these were re-diagnoses) with Autism, ADHD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Depression. With this in actual writing, I was able to register with disability services and get the accommodations I needed.

Junior year was the peak of my stress, however, I was starting to establish friendships. I started exploring outside my major, I got a new job in something I realized I loved. I developed a passion for it kept working at it. I found out this year as well that I did not get into my major, so I made the decision to switch to one similar that would allow me to graduate the next year.

This year was a slight rollercoaster and full of a lot of denials. For a long time, I thought I would be here a lot longer, but I managed to graduate in four years. I will be the first in my immediate family to graduate college, for dad’s side of the family it is a huge deal. I have a full-time job lined up that starts in the next couple of weeks which is a full-time version of what I do now, but with better pay and great benefits.

I feel sentimental. I had a lot of tears these past four years, one of those including missing a midterm not because I overslept, but I forgot and hung out on another floor of the same building. I’ve developed some good connections with some of my professors and I achieved what I thought wouldn’t be possible. To those who might be feeling discouraged right now, I believe in you because if I can do it, you certainly can. Go Bucks, and I am so excited for May 6th! I’M GONNA FREAKING GRADUATE!

edit: Wow…It’s crazy to see so many people that actually cared. Something I probably should have clarified when I wrote this is that I am aware that it is not going to be easier after graduation, the difference between what I was and what I am now is that I’ll actually know how to handle most things that get thrown at me or at least have the tools on learning how to handle it. My 18-year old self would have never been able to handle half of the things that post-grad adults have to face, just out of ignorance and the lack of ability to handle the anxiety.

1870 Staff

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